Background: News footage of the scene in Whitemarsh Island, Ga. where J.T. Schroeder was stabbed on Oct. 23 (WTOC). Inset (left): Delano Middleton (Chatham County Detention Center). Inset (right): J.T. Schroeder (GoFundMe).

Delano Middleton, 48, was taken into custody on Thursday, a week after a clash with 18-year-old J.T. Schroeder at a Walmart located on Whitemarsh Island, roughly eight miles from Savannah. Police reports indicate that on October 23, Middleton was exiting the store when Schroeder allegedly kicked his shopping cart as he walked by. This incident reportedly escalated into a confrontation, during which Middleton is accused of stabbing Schroeder multiple times.

Schroeder was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries the next day.

Local news outlet WJCL, an ABC affiliate, covered the story and stated that police gathered statements from several witnesses who were present during the stabbing. The report also highlighted Middleton’s extensive criminal record, noting that he was on probation when the incident occurred on October 23.

According to reporting by local ABC affiliate WJCL, police interviewed several witnesses at the scene after the alleged stabbing took place. WJCL reported that Middleton had a long history of arrests for violent crimes and was out on probation at the time of the Oct. 23 incident.

Schroeder’s father told WJCL that his son “was never, ever confrontational unless he was confronted first.” He described what happened when he got the call that his son had been attacked at Walmart, saying, “I got over there as fast as I could and saw blood everywhere. He was literally stabbed over 10 times until he finally bled out and died.”

WJCL reported that Schroeder was an organ donor. He was taken off life support on Oct. 24.

Middleton was charged with murder and is currently in custody at the Chatham County Detention Center.